Semi-automatic wrapping machine



Dec. 22, 1959 Filed.Aug. 27. 1954 IN VEN TOR$ www Dec. 22, 1959 w. F. sTREMKE ETAL 2,917,885

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27. 1954 Y INVENTORS. WIW/:afg: .7. .6X/femke,

Dec. 22, 1959 n w. STREMKE rig-rm.l 2,917,885

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2v., 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 V EN TORS. WJ/7am 1 Sllflyemhe,

W lSiler/My Dec. 22, 1959 w, F- STREMKE ETAL 2,917,885

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 27. 1954 s .I Rek. Amgm w mm@ M mwywd. w f. j 2f www @wf www.

United States Patent O 2,911,885 SEMI-AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE William F. Stremke, William F. Stremke, Jr., and Roman R. Pazderski, Milwaukee,` Wis.

Application August 27, 19'54, Serial No. 452,593

18 Claims. (Cl. 53206) The increasing popularity ofthe self-service food market, and particularly the Vapplication of the self-service feature to the meat departments, has given rise to the problem of packaging meat, produce, and other bulk foods in sealed, transparent packages containing varying quantities to accomodate the various demands of .the customers. The wrapping material must be transparent to enable the customer to view the contents, and the package must be sealed for sanitary reasons, as well as to prevent its being tampered with. Such packages are placed in display cases, accessible to thecustomer, who selects the desired package andtakes it to a designated place to pay for it. Many of these self-service food markets are large establishments employing several people for the purpose of wrapping food in this manner to maintain an adequate stock on display. In such operations the use of power operated wrapping equipment results in substantial savings in labor by greatly increasing the output of the individual employee.

It is well accepted in the trade that the neatest and most practical package for bulk foods is produced by employing a tray for receiving the merchandise, and placing a sheet of wrapping material about it so that the diagonally opposite corners of the sheet are brought to.- gether at the underside of the tray and bound `together in that position. This method of packaging is known as the diamond wrap, and although it has been found to be the most efficient method of packaging this type of merchandise, wrapping machines presently available for wrapping such merchandise are not capable of producing the diamond wrap. For this reason it is a specific p urpose of this invention to provide a wrapping machine especially adapted to perform the diamond wrap in wrapping merchandise in a sheet of wrapping material.

It is a gener-a1 object of the present invention to provide an improved power operated machine for wrapping merchandise in a sheet of wrapping material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved Vsemiautomatic wrapping machine for expediting the wrapping of food in packages for display in self-service food markets.

Another object is toprovide an improved machine for completing the wrapping procedure after the initial operation of placing a sheet of wrapping material about the merchandise to be wrapped has been performed manually.

Another object is to provide an improved machine esypecially adapted forcompleting a diamond wrap to pack age merchandise in la sheet of wrapping material.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for wrapping merchandise in heat sensitive wrapping material which fol-ds the wrapping material about the merchandise to" form a neat package, and applies heat to the wrapping material to seal the package.

Another object is to provide an improved wrapping machine especially adapted to wrapv bulk foods contained in standard trays with vthe Voperating mechanism of the machine being readily adjustable ,to accomodate the various sizes of-'trays 1 '2,917,885' Patented Dec. 22, 19,59

ice

A further object is to provide an efficient machine of sturdy construction for rapidly wrapping merchandise a sheet of wrapping material and sealing the package.

According to this invention the improved semi-auto; matic wrapping machine includes a conveyor for reg ceiving the merchandise to be wrapped, such as a tray containing meat or similar bulk food. The merchandise is placed on the conveyor with a sheet of heat sensitive Wrapping material placed simply about it, preferably with two diagonally opposite corners brought together at the underside of the tray for performing a diamond wrap, and bound together by the application of heat. With the sheet of wrapping material thus placed about the tray, it will extend laterally from the tray at two op'f posite sides, and it is the function of the machine to neatly fold these extending ends downwardly and to the underside of the tray and seal them in this position by the application of heat. The conveyor therefore moves the tray having the sheet of wrapping material about it, with its ends extending laterally from the tray, into a folding mechanism where the folding operation is performed on these extending ends. As the conveyor moves the tray into the folding mechanism, it moves the advanced longitudinal sides of the extending ends against a pair of front tuckers to tuck the front sides inwardly toward the center of the tray for drawing the wrapping material tightly about the adjacent corners of the tray. A pair of rear tuckers are then actuated to similarly tuck the rear sides o-f the extending ends to draw them tightly about their yadjacent corners to form a neat package. While the rear sides are being tucked inwardly toward the center of the tray, an elevator functions to raise the tray into position for operation upon by a pair of folders, each of which functions to fold one of the extending ends with its sides tucked inwardly underneath the tray. These folders are heated by suitable heating elements for the purpose of applying heat to the wrapping material to fuse the several folds and bind them together at'the underside of the tray. The two folders move in an arcuate path, in opposite directions toward each other so that each contacts one of the extending ends, to -move it downwardly and underneath the tray, applying heatto it at the same time to bind it to the wrapping material at the underside of the tray. The folders move toward each other until their edges are in juxaposition, and when they are in this position they are supporting the tray and the extremities of the ends of wrapping material extend downwardly between them from the bottom Vof the tray. A transfer mechanism then operates to slide the tray oif of the two folders to Ia hot plate, but before the tray reaches the hot plate it is passed over a notched plate with the downwardly extending extremities of the wrapping material entering the notch and being folded against the underside of the tray as it passes over the plate. The transfer mechanism releases the tray onl the hot plate where it rests for a moment to heat the wrap: ping material at its underside to fuse it together `and seal the package. As the succeeding tray is moved onto the hot plate, it pushes the preceding tray off of it onto a grid which accelerates the cooling of the underside ofthe package which is then ready to be removed from the machine and placed on display.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, which will become apparent from the following detailed specification setting forth an illustrative embodiment, may be achieved by the particular apparatus depicted in and described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a semiautomatic wrapping machine embodying the features of the present invention, with a panel broken away to reveal the actuating mechanism;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the power train for transmitting power to the operating mechanisms;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the slip clutch through which all of the power for actuating the operating mechanisms is transmitted;

Y Figure 4 is a detail view in right side elevation of the transfer mechanism for transporting the article being wrapped out of the folding mechanism;

`Figure 5 is an enlarged View substantially in rear cl;vation, depicting the folding mechanism and the cam shaft which actuates the several parts of the folding mechanism for folding the wrapping material to the underside of the article being wrapped;

.Figure 6 is a fragmentary view substantially in left Side elevation illustrating the mechanism for adjusting the spacing of parts of the machine to accommodate rthe varying widths of the articles to be wrapped; Figure 7 is a view substantially in vertical section taken along the plane represented by the line 7-7 in Figure 6,'illustrating one of the three nut and screw mechanisms for adjusting the spacing of parts of the .machine to accommodate the varying widths of the articles to be wrapped;

Figure 8 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section taken along the plane represented by the line 8-8 in Figure 7, depicting the arrangement of the conveyor for moving the article to be wrapped into the folding mechanism;

Figure 9 is a detail View in vertical section taken -along the plane represented by the line 9 9 in Figure 6 to show the mounting of the conveyor guide rails;

Figure 10 is a detail view in side elevation showing the linkage for actuating the rear tuckers;

Figure 11 is a detail plan View of the slide mechanism and its associated parts for limiting the upward movement of the article being wrapped while the folders are folding the wrapping material underneath it; Figure 12 is a plan view of the mechanism for adjusting the longitudinal position of the front tuckers to accommodate the Varying lengths of the articles to be wrapped, with the hot plate broken away to reveal the parts underneath it;

. Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the article to be wrapped being supported bythe elevator mechanism in its lower position while the front tuckers are operating .on the extending ends ofthe wrapping material; Figure 14 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the article to be wrapped being supported by the elevator mechanism in its upper position with the folders initiating movement of the extending ends of the wrapping material downwardly and to the underside of the article;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the position of the folders after they have completed their operation of folding the extending ends of the wrapping material to the underside of the article being wrapped with the extremities of the ends of the Wrapping material extending downwardly from the article between the folders; and

Figure 16 is a detail view in side one of the front tuckers.

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 1 thereof showing a perspective View of a wrapping machine embodying the features of the present invention. The machine is carried by a frame 20, supported by four casters 21 to render it readily movable. The wrapping machine as shown includes a conveyor 22 upon which the article to be wrapped is placed for moving it into a folding mechanism generally identified by the reference numeral 23.

Although not confined to a particular wrapping operation, the, wrapping machine shown in Figure l is especially intended for use in self-service food markets to,

elevation depicting wrap bulk merchandise in a transparent wrapping material. It is particularly well adapted to perform what is known in the trade as a diamond wrap, in which the Wrapping material is cut into square sheets and is wrapped around the merchandise so that diagonally opposite corners of the sheet are brought together preferably at the underside of the package. Furthermore, since packages of this nature must be sealed, the machine is intended to be used with a heat sensitive wrapping material which will fuse upon the application of heat to eiciently seal the package. Since the wrapping material is preferably transparent as well, it has been found that cellophane is an ideal material by virtue of its transparency and the fact that it may be effectively sealed by the application of heat.

The wrapping machine of the present invention is not completely automatic since the initial operation of the wrapping procedure is performed manually. This manual operation comprises placing the sheet of Wrapping material about the article to be wrapped with a pair of diagonally opposite corners brought together at the underside of the article. This initial operation is performed on a table 24 disposed at the end of the conveyor 22, and similar in construction to the wrapping table described in our copending patent application, Serial Number 433,- 664, filed June l, 1954, now U.S. Patent No. 2,840,962, Iuly 1, 1958.

The table 24 includes a hot plate 25 which serves as a source for applying heat to the two corners of the wrapping material which have been brought together underneath the article, to bind the two corners together. After the wrapping material has been thus placed and secured about the article to be wrapped, the article is placed upon the conveyor 22 which operates to move the article, with its sheet of wrapping material attached, into the folding mechanism 23 where the more complex and time consumingportion of the wrapping procedure is completed automatically in a manner to be subsequently described.

Power for operating the machine is obtained from an electric motor 30 having a pulley 31 keyed to its drive shaft and connected to drive a pulley 32 by a belt 33. The pulley 32 is keyed to the input shaft of a gear reducer 34 which is carried with the motor 30 on a mounting plate 35, the latter being secured to the frame V20. The pulley 32 is of the well known expandable type in which its side members are yieldably urged toward each other to render its pitch diameter variable for the purpose of infinitely varying the speed at which it is driven. The pitch diameter of the pulley 32 is adjusted by adjusting the spacing between the pulley 31 and the pulley 32. To this end the motor 30 is supported on the plate 35 by a motor mount 36 having a screw and nut connection (not shown) to the motor, operable by rotating a handle 37 to move the motor in either direction relative to the gear reducer 34 to thereby adjust the spacing between the pulleys 31 and -32 for effecting a change in the rate of rotation of the pulley 32.

As best shown in Figure 2, the gear reducer 34 is provided with an output shaft 43 disposed 90 to its input shaft, and having keyed to it a drive sprocket 44. The drive sprocket 44 is connected by a chain 45 to drive a sprocket 46 mounted on a cam shaft 47 journalled in bearings 48 fixed in the frame 20. All of the power utilized for driving the various mechanisms of the machine is transmitted from the electric motor 30 to the cam shaft 47 through the sprocket 46. The latter is therefore connected to drive the cam shaft 47 through a slip clutch shown in detail in Figure 3, and generally identified by the reference numeral 50. The slip clutch 50 provides a yieldable driving connection between the sprocket 46 and the cam shaft 47 so that if an overload occurs in any part of the machine, the sprocket 46 will slip relative to the cam shaft 47 to terminate the transmission of power to all of the operating mechanisms for @.6 iPurpose of ipreventing possible damage. 1

The slip clutch 50is`a simple but eicient mechanism comprising a collar 51 disposed about the cam shaft 47 and split by a radial kerf 52. The kerf 52 functions to permit the collar 51 to be clamped to the cam shaft 47 with an adjustable degree of tightness to selectively limit the load which may be transmitted to the cam shaft 47. To this end the sprocket 46 includes a hub 53 having a bore 54 for receiving the collar 51. Two screws 55 are in threaded engagement with radial holes formed through the hub 53, ninety degrees apart, with one screw S disposed on each side of the kerf 52. The ends of the screws 55 bear upon the collar 51 at either side of the kerf 52, and as they are tightened, they increase the clamping pressure between the collar 51 and the cam shaft 47 to increase the amount of power that may be transmitted from the sprocket 46 to the cam shaft 47.

With this arrangement, the screws 55 may be tightened just enough to permit the transmission of suicient power to the cam shaft 47 to actuate the several mechanisms of the machines in their normal operation. If an overload should occur in any part of the machine for one reason or another so that the power required to operate it is in excess of that which can be transmitted through the slip clutch 50 for the established setting of the vscrews 55, the coll-ar 51 will slip relative to the cam shaft 47, permitting the sprocket `46 to rotate without effecting a corresponding rotation of the cam shaft 47. The machine will therefore be prevented from operating until the overload condition is remedied.

Rotation of the cam shaft 47 serves to operate the folding mechanism 23 in a manner to be subsequently described. In addition, power is taken from the cam shaft 47 to drive a transfer mechanism generally identied by the reference numeral 59, as well as to drive the conveyor 22. As best shown in Figure 2, the power for driving these two mechanisms is transmitted from the cam shaft 47 through a sprocket 60 keyed thereto and in engagement with a chain 61 having similar engagement with a sprocket 62 keyed to a shaft 63 which is rotatably supported by the frame 20. The chain 61 therefore, serves to transmit the power from the cam -shaft 47 to the shaft 63 to rotate a sprocket 64 keyed to the shaft 63 at its end opposite the location of the sprocket 62.

The sprocket 64 has meshing engagement with a drive chain 70 which also engages a sprocket 71 keyed to a shaft 72, the latter being journalled in bearings 73 supported by an upper extension 74 of the frame 20 as shown in Figure 5. As illustrated in Figure l, the chain 70 and sprocket 71 are disposed within a guard 75 to avoid the possibility of injury. Thus, the power is transmitted from the shaft 63 through the sprocket 64, the chain 70, and the sprocket 71 to rotate the shaft 72 for operating the transfer mechanism 59. The latter functions in a manner to be subsequently described to transfer the package from the folding mechanism 23 to a hot plate 76 after the folding mechanism has completed its operation upon the package.

The power for operating the conveyor 22 is also taken from the shaft 63 through a spur gear 80 keyed to it. The spur gear 80 has meshing engagement with a cooperating spur gear 81 keyed to a shaft 82 rotatably sup- 'ported by the frame 20 and connected to actuate the conveyor 22. Thus, it is apparent, that the power from the motor 30 is transmitted tothe sprocket 46 and branches therefrom to actuate the three operating mechanisms of the machine, comprising the conveyor 22, the folding mechanism 23 and the transfer mechanism 59.

The conveyor 22 comprises a conveyor frame 87 supported by the frame 20 to extend forwardly therefrom as illustrated in Figure 8. At its forward end the frame 87 supports a shaft 88 upon which is rotatably mounted an idler sprocket 89 centrally disposed for receiving an endless conveyor chain 90, to form one end of the loop about whichthe chain 90 travels. The other end of the loop is defined by a drive sprocket 91 and an idler sprocket 92.

As previously described, the power for driving the-cone veyor 22 is taken from the shaft 82, and the drive sprocket 91 is therefore keyed to this shaft while the idler sprocket 92 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 63 to rotate relative to it, being located beneath the drive sprocket 91 to increase the width of the loop through which the chain travels. The shaft 88 is mounted on the frame 87 for lateral adjustment to provide for adjusting the tension in the chain 90.

Two plates 96 are mounted on top of the frame 87 with one being disposed on either side of the chain 90 to form a table top along a substantial length of the conf veyor as depicted in Figure l. The plates 96 are spaced from each other to form a longitudinal gap 97 centrally disposed to coincide with the path of travel of the chain 90, the gap 97 being slightly wider than the width of the chain 90. The top surface of the chain 90 is located just beneath the plates 96 so that it does not protrude above them when in operation. Depending aprons 98 are provided along the sides of the plates 96 to completely con. ceal the frame 87. The plates 96 extend forwardly to the end of the loop formed by the chain 90, and a front.- ward extension to the table top created by the plates 96 is formed by a plate 99, conforming in width to the table top. The plate 99 is also secured to the top of the frame 87 and is provided with a depending apron 101 similar to the aprons 98.

Attached to the chain 90 in equally spaced relationship and extending outwardly therefrom are three pusher members 102, two of which are illustrated in Figure 8. The pusher members 102 travel with the chain 90 and emerge from beneath the plates 96 as they travel along the lower length of the loop, through an opening 103 formed in the plate 99 to extend above the plates 96 as they move along the upper length of the loop formed by the chain 90.

A pair of guide rails 107 set upon the plates 96 and extend rearwardly beyond the end of the plates 96 into the folding mechanism 23. The guide rails 107 are formed of structural angles as shown in Figure 7, and one guide rail 107 is located on each side of the gap 97, equally spaced from the gap, with its horizontal leg extending inwardly toward the gap. After the sheet of wrapping material has been manually placed about the article to be wrapped and secured thereto as previously described, the article is placed upon the conveyor 22 between the two guide rails 107. At the forward end of the conveyor, adjacent to the plate 99, the guide rails 107 are spaced a distance substantially greater than the width of the article to be wrapped for the convenience of the operator to avoid the necessity of fitting the article between the two guide rails. From the plate 99, the guide rails 107 taper inwardly until their vertical legs are spaced a distance conforming with the width of the article being wrapped.

Therefore, when the article is placed upon the conveyor 22 it will be resting upon the plates 96 over the gap 97. As one of the pushers 102 moving with the chain 90 engages the article, it pushes it along the plates 96 between the guide rails 107. When the article reaches the portion where the spacing of the guide rails 107 conforms to the width of the article, the latter is pushed onto the horizontal legs of the guide rails 107 which serve to support it while the vertical legs guide it. The pushers 102 then push the article along the guide rails 107 beyond the end of the plates 96 into the folding mechanism 23.

.Since the articles which are to be wrapped will vary in width, the guide rails 107 are movably mounted for lateral adjustment for the purpose of varying their spacing to accommodate articles of different width. In Figure 1 the article being wrapped is illustrated as a standard at paper tray 108 for receiving meat or other bulk foods. These trays are furnished in several standard sizes, with each size being identified by a number, and the machine shown is especially adapted to be adjusted for these standard trays as will be seen, although lit is to be under- -brackets 114. Vthreads of the screws 118, 125, and 133 are disposed on stood that other'a'rticles may also be wrapped by the machine, it noty being essential to employ a particular type of tray for use with the machine.

i The folding mechanism 23 must likewise be adjusted to accommodate different widths of trays 108 as will be seen, and to this end there are provided two vertical mounting brackets 114 depicted in Figures 5 and 6, oppositely disposed on either side of the center of the machine with each bracket 114 being equally spaced from the center of the machine. At their upper extremities, each of the brackets 114 is provided with an elongated horizontal cross bar 115 extending on either side of the bracket 114. At its rearwardly extending portion, each of the cross bars 115 supports a depending bracket 116 to which is rigidly secured a nut 117 as best seen in Figures and 6. The two nuts 117 are oppositely threaded and are disposed in alignment for operatively receiving a screw 118 rotatably supported by the frame 20 and provided with a sprocket 119 keyed to it at one extremity, adjacent to the frame 20. One half of the screw 118 Vis provided with a right hand thread for engagement with the right hand thread of the mating nut 117, and the other half of the screw 118 is provided with a left hand thread for engagement with the left hand thread of the other of the two nuts 117. With this arrangement, rotation of the screw 118 will cause the nuts 117 to move in opposite directions so that both will move uniformly either outwardly to increase their spacing or inwardly toward each other.

Similarly, the forwardly extending portion of each of the cross bars 115 supports a depending bracket 123 shown in Figures 6 and 7. A nut 124 is rigidly secured to each of the brackets 123, one of the nuts 124 being threaded oppositely to the other. The nuts 124 are disposed in alignment to operatively receive a screw 125 rotatably mounted in the frame 20 and provided with a sprocket 126 keyed to it at its extremity adjacent to the frame 20. One half of the screw 125 is provided with a right hand thread for engagement with the right hand ythread of the mating nut 124, and the other half of the screw 125 is provided with a left hand thread for engagement with the left hand thread of the other of the two nuts 124. Therefore, the nuts 124 are arranged in the same manner as the nuts 117 so that rotation of the screw -125 will cause the nuts 124 to move uniformly in opposite directions either toward each other or away from each other. A squared end 127 of the screw 125 extends outwardly of the frame 20 for receiving a crank 128 for the purpose of manually revolving the screw.

The brackets 114 are similarly supported at a third point by a screw 133, having a left hand thread formed along half of its length and a right hand thread along the other half in the same manner as the screws 118 and 125. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, the screw 133 is in meshing engagement with a pair of nuts 134,

one of which is xed to each of the brackets 114, centrally located at their lower extremities. One of the nuts 134 is provided with a left hand thread for engagement with the left hand thread of the screw 133, While the other nut 134 has a right hand thread for engagement with the right hand threaded portion of the screw 133. The screw 133 also has a sprocket 135 keyed to it at one end in the same plane as the sprockets 119 and 126 of the screws 118 and 125 respectively.

The screws 118, 125 and 133 are mounted in the frame V20 so that their left hand threads are on one side of the machine for engagement with the left hand threaded nuts 117, 124, and 134 respectively which are all fixed so that they cannot rotate but move axially with one of the Obviously, therefore, the right hand which are also'xed so that they cannot rotate but are 8 secured for axial movement with the' other'of the two brackets 114.

With this arrangement the brackets 114 are iirmly supported at three points, spaced to form a triangle, by the screws 118, 125, and 133. It is only necessary to revolve these three screws simultaneously, in either direction, for effecting a simultaneous uniform movement of the two brackets'114 either toward each other to reduce their spacing, or away from each other to increase their spacing. To this end, the three sprockets 119, 126, and which are keyed to the screws 118, 125, and 133 respectively, and disposed in the same plane, are in meshing engagement with an endless chain 138Afor effecting simultaneous rotation of the sprockets and their associated screws at a uniform rate.

The chain 133 Vis also in meshing engagement with an idler sprocket 139 joui-nailed in a plate 140 which is mounted on the frame 20 for vertical adjustment to Vary the vertical position of the sprocket 139 for the purpose of adjusting the tension in the chain 138. Therefore, to vary the spacing of the bracket 114 and the parts supported by them, it is only necessary to manipulate the crank 128 to revolve the screw 125 and its associated sprocket 126 to actuate the chain 138 and thereby revolve the three screws 118, 125, and 133 simultaneously at a uniform rate in either direction.

As previously mentioned, it is necessary to render the guide rails 107 adjustable laterally for the purpose of varying their spacing to accommodate the varying widths of articles which are to be wrapped. Each of the two guide rails 107 is therefore supported by one of the cross bars 115 which move with the brackets 114 as previously described. As shown in Figures 6 and 9, each of the guide rails 107 is secured to its associated cross bar 115 by an L-shaped bracket 142 having its horizontal leg secured to the cross bar 115, and its vertical leg attached to the guide rail 107 to secure the guide rail 107 to the cross bar 115.

Further support for the guide rails 107 at their opposite ends is provided by the cross bars 115 which extend from the rear of the machine forwardly underneath the plates 96 of the conveyor 22 to the ends of the plates. An upstanding lug 143, depicted in Figure l, is secured to each of the cross bars 115 at its forward end and extends upwardly therefrom through a slot 144 formed in the plate 99 to be attached to the guide rail 107 at its forward end. Thus, the guide rails 107 are supported at both ends by the cross bars 115 through the L-shaped brackets 142 andthe lugs 143 so that their spacing may be varied by adjusting the spacing of the brackets 114.

The spacing of the brackets 114 to accommodate the standard size trays 108 is facilitated by a graduated scale 144 secured to one of the guide rails 107 to move with it as illustrated in Figure l, and mounted in position to cooperate with a pointer 145 rigidly attached to the plate 96. The scale 144 is graduated to indicate the proper spacing of the brackets 114 for the standard size trays 103, and it is therefore only necessary to revolve the crank 128 and observe the position of the pointer 145 relative to the scale 144 to establish the desired spacing of the brackets 114 and the parts supported by them.

When the tray 108 is placed upon the conveyor 22 with the sheet of wrapping material wrapped about it, two ends of the sheet of wrapping material extend laterally from the tray 108. It is the function of the folding mechanism 23 to move these two ends downwardly and fold them underneath the tray 108 and seal them in position to complete the wrapping operation. In order to produce a neat package with no protruding corners, it is necessary to tuck both longitudinal sides of each of the ends 150 inwardly toward the center of the tray 108 to draw the wrapping material tightly about the corners of the tray. After the sides of the ends 150 are thus tucked inwardly, the ends 150 are folded under 'asi-758s :the tray-'108 and sealed in that position -bythe application Vof heat in a manner to be subsequently described.

The several operating parts of the folding mechanism v23 are actuated by a set of cams mounted on the cam shaft 47 to rotate with it as best shown in Figure 5. A single elevator cam 151 is secured to the shaft 47 to rotate with it and is permanently fixed against axial movement at the center of the shaft 47 between the two ,brackets 114. The remaining cams on the cam shaft 47 .are .mounted on a pair of anges 152 each of which is attached to the end of a sleeve 153. Since the arrangement of cams on either side of the cam 151 is identical and symmetrical, and the parts operated by similar cams are likewise identical in construction, it will be only necessary to refer to one side of the folding mechanism `in the description, but like parts will be identified by like reference numerals, and it is to be understood that both `sides operate in an identical manner. The sleeve 153 yis .-journalled in a bearing 154 mounted on lthe bracket 114,

andis keyed to the shaft 47 Ain an elongated key slot 155 extending through the entire `length of the shaft. The end of the sleeve 153 opposite the flange 152 extends beyond the bearing 154 to receive a collar 160 secured v.thereto by a set screw 161 to retain the sleeve 153 within the rbearing 154.

A drum shaped folder cam 162 is secured to the face ofthe flange 152 with its outwardly extending edge presenting a cam surface 163 for operating a folder in a .manner to be described. As shown in Figure 6, a rear tucker cam 168 is secured to the drum cam 162 to rotate Awith it by a pair of screws 169 extending through elongated .arcuate slots 170 formed in the cam 168, into engagement with threaded holes (not shown) formed in the folder cam 162. The arcuate slots 170 are elongated to permit rotational adjustment of the tucker cam 168 relative to the folder cam 162 for -the purpose of obtaining proper timing of the mechanism.

Proper spacing of the tucker cam 168 from the folder cam 162 is achieved by a spacer 171 disposed on the shaft 47 between the two cams as depicted in Figure 5. -It will be noted that the cams 162 and 168 are supported by the bracket 114 to move with it, so that the spacing of the two sets of cams will vary with the movement of the brackets 114 while retaining engagement with the shaft 47 to rotate with it by reason of the elongated key slot 155.

The conveyor 22 moves the tray 108 into the folding mechanism 23 arid pushes a forward side 174 of each of the ends 150 against a pair of front tuckers 175 before `the pusher 102 releases the tray 108 as it moves downwardly with the chain 90 along the sprocket 91. MoVement of the sides 174 against the front tuckers 175 serves to tuck them inwardly toward the center of the tray to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two adjacent corners.

As best illustrated in Figures 12 and 16, each of the front tuckers 175 comprises an upstanding plate 156 having attached to it at its lower end a bar 157 to extend outwardly of the plate. A block 158 is similarly attached to the plate 156 above the bar 157 and presents a vertical front edge 159 and has an inclined lower edge 164 which cooperates with the top edge of the bar 157 to form a V notch 165. An L-shaped bar 166 is attached to the bar 157 with one leg extending along the surface of the bar 157 and its other leg extending transversely in front of the bar 157 to present a surface 167 for performing theftucking operation. The entire front tucker unit 175 is mounted on the forward end of a slide bar 336 being secured thereto by suitable screws 172. The slide bars 336 are slidably carried by the machine as will be later described to adjust the longitudinal position of the front tuckers 175 to accommodate trays 108 of different length.

In operation, as the tray 108 is moved by the conveyor 2 2, each of thefront Vsides 174 of the extending ends.150 strikes one of the surfaces v167 to be tucked inwardly by it as the tray 108 continues its movement. The tucked in sides then slide over the top of the bar 157 and into the V notches 165 which serve to retain the tucks lin the sides 174, with the plates 156 serving to limit the movement of the tray 108 so that it is properly located with respect to the V notch 165.

After the sides 174 have been tucked thus by the front tuckers 175 due to the positioning of the tray 108 by the pusher 102, a pair of rear tuckers depicted in Figures 1 and l0 are actuated by the rear tucker cams 168 to similarly tuck rear sides 181 inwardly toward the center of the tray 108 to tighten the wrapping material about their adjacent corners of the tray. A separate linkage is provided for actuating each of the two tuckers 180, the two linkages being identical in construction, one of which is illustrated in Figure 10.

Such linkage comprises a roller 182 rotatably supported at the lower end of a pivot bar 183 in position to contact a peripheral cam surface 184 of the cam 168. The pivot bar 183 is pivotally supported on a pin 185 which is secured to the bracket 114 to extend outwardly therefrom. The upper end of the pivot bar 183 is connected to a link 186 through a pin 187 with the other end of the link 186 being connected to a support 188 through a pin 189. The support 188 is pivotally supported at one end by a pin 190 mounted on the bracket 114, and at its opposite end the support 188 carries the tucker 180 which is fixed to the support by screws 191 extending through a slot 192 formed in the tucker for the purpose of rendering the tucker 180 adjustable relative to the support 188 to locate it in its optimum position. The roller 182 is retained in contact with the cam surface 184 by a coil spring 193 attached at one end to the bracket 114 and at the other end to the pivot bar 183 below the pin 185 to yieldably urge the pivot bar in a clockwise direction for the purpose of maintaining the periphery of the roller 182 in contact with the cam surface 184.

The cam surface 184 includes a relatively long dwell portion and a rise 197 which serves to rapidly pivot the pivot bar 183 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure l0. The pivotal movement of the pivot 'bar 183 about the pin 185 is transmitted through the link 186 to the support 188 to pivot the support about the pin 190 and its associated tucker 18) with it in a counterclockwise direction. The tucker 180 includes Ya plate 177 having a V notch 178 formed in it and supported on the inner end of a transverse bar 179. The transverse bar 179 presents a surface 194 for performing the tucking operation.

When the conveyor 22 moves the tray 108 into the folding mechanism 23 it locates the tray on an elevator mechanism generally identified by the reference numeral 198, and which functions to raise the tray to a pair of folders which will be subsequently described. The elevator mechanism 198 begins to raise the tray 108 at the same time that the tuckers 180y are actuated but 'after the front sides 174 have been tucked in by the front tuckers 175. As the tray 108 rises, the tucked in front sides 174 move out of the V notches 165 and are bent downwardly by the inclined edges 164. They are held in this position during their upward movement by the vertical surfaces 159 along which they slide in their upward movement to retain the tucks until the ends 150 are contacted by the folders which then operate to prevent the release of the tucks as will be later described.

The rear tuckers 180 move upwardly and toward the rear sides 181 in an arcuate movement as previously described, with this movement occurring while the tray 108 is being raised by the elevator mechanism 198. To effect the tucking operation each of the surfaces 194 of thetuckers 18,0 moves into contact with one ofthe two sides 181 and tucks it inwardly. Continued movement causes the tucked in side 181 to slide over the top of the bar 179 into the V notch 178, and as the tray 108 progresses upwardly the upper surface of the V notch 178 causes the tucked side to bend downwardly as it leaves the V notch to retain the tuck until the folders contact the ends 150 to prevent release of the tucks.

Two tuckers 180 are provided for operating upon the two sides 131, and as previously mentioned, two identical linkages are employed for actuating them. One of the linkages is supported on one side of the machine on the bracket 114, and the other is symmetrically disposed on the other side of the machine, being supported by the other of the two brackets 114. It will be noted, that the cams 168, the linkages actuated by them, and the tuckers 180 are all carried by the brackets 114 so that the spacing of the two identical mechanisms will vary with the movement of the brackets 114 to accommodate the different size trays 108.

As previously mentioned, when the conveyor 22 moves the tray 108 into the folding mechanism 23 it locates the tray on the elevator mechanism 198 best shown in Figures and 14. The elevator mechanism 198 is actuated by the cam 151 and comprises a roller 199 disposed within a bifurcated end 201 of an elevator bar 202, being rotatably mounted on a pin 203 which extends across the bifurcated end 201. At its upper end the elevator ybar 202 presents a plate 204 for receiving the tray 108 from the conveyor 22, and is supported for ver tical sliding movement by a guide block 205. The latter is provided with a suitable recess for receiving the elevator bar 202 for sliding movement, and is secured to a cross bar 206 mounted on the frame 20.

The elevator bar 202 and its associated parts are urged downwardly by a coil spring 207 attached at one end to the upper end of the elevator bar 202, and at its other end to the lower end of a bar 208 which depends from the cross bar 206. The spring 207 therefore functions to urge the elevator bar 202 downwardly to retain the roller 199 in contact with a cam surface 209 formed on the periphery of the elevator cam 151. The cam 151 is arranged to cause the elevator 198-to be depressed by the spring 207 for receiving the tray 108 from the conveyor 22. While the tuckers 180 are functioning as described, the cam 151 operates to move the elevator 198 upwardly for the purpose of raising the tray 108 to the position illustrated in Figures 5 and 14 for operation upon by two folders 215, each of which functions to fold one of the two ends 150 underneath the tray 108 and seai it in that position by the application of heat.

Each of the folders 215 operates in the same manner and are actuated by identical mechanisms oppositely disposed on either side of the elevator 19S as best seen in Figure 5. Each of these mechanisms comprises a bracket 216 pivotally supported by a pin 217 extending axially from a plate 218 which is mounted on the bracket 114. The bracket 216 extends downwardly from the pin 217 and has a pin 221 attached to its lower end for rotatably supporting a roller 219 in position to contact the cam surface 163 of the folder cam 162. A bar 222 is xed to the bracket 216 directly above the roller 219 to extend outwardly therefrom for the purpose of supporting a pin 223 at its extending end to which is attached one end of a coil spring 224. The other end of the coil spring 224 is attached to the bracket 114 by a pin 225. The spring 224 therefore serves to urge the bracket 216 in a pivotal movement about the pin 217 to retain the roller 219 in contact with the cam surface 163.

, The bracket 216 extends upwardly from its pivot point established by the pin 217 and is shaped at its upper end to present an upper substantially horizontal leg 226 which supports the folder 215 at its extremity. Initially, the two folders are in their retracted position toward the sides of the machine with a maximum space between them'.

'vertically disposed.

When the elevator mechanism v198 begins to Vraise the tray 108, the cams 162 operate to actuate the brackets 216 in their pivotal movement to move the two folders 215 in an arc, toward each other, in the direction of the center of the machine. This movement causes each of the folders 215 to contact the top edge of the tray 108 just before it'reaches its uppermost position as shown in Figure 14, and while the elevator 198 raises the tray 108 its remaining distance, the folders 215 draw the Wrapping material tightly downwardly along the edges of the tray. When the elevator 198 reaches its upper limit of movement, the folders 215 are located along the bottom edge of the tray 108, and from this position move inwardly toward each other to fold the ends 150 underneath the tray and seal them in that position.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 15, this folding operation is performed in cooperation with a pair of channel shaped abutments 233 which limit the upward movement of the tray 108 while it is being operated upon by the folders 215. The two abutments 233 are mounted for lateral movement toward and away from each other and are connected to be actuated in this movement in conjunction with the movement of the folders 215. The two mechanisms for supporting and actuating the abutments 233 are oppositely disposed on either side of the center of the machine and identical in construction. Each of these mechanisms comprises a plate 234 upon which the abutment 233 is mounted. The plate 234 is xed to the end of a pair of supports 235, best seen in Figure 11. The Supports 235 are attached to a T shaped slide 236 at the cross bar portion of the T, on either side of the leg of the T, by suitable screws 237. A pair of plates 238 are attached to the underside of the slide 236, with one of the plates 238 being supported at each end of the cross bar of the T formed by the slide.

Each of the plates 238 serves to carry two depending pins 244, each of which rotatably supports a roller 245. The rollers 245 are provided with two flanges 246, illustrated in Figure 5, for the purpose of straddling a pair of slide bars 247 and 248, with the-flanges 246 of the two rollers 245 on one of the plates 238 straddling the slide bar 237, and the flanges of the two rollers on the other plate 238 straddling the slide bar 248. The proper spacing of the slide bars 247 and 248 is maintained by a pair of cross bars 252 and 253 with the cross bar 252 being attached to the inner ends of the slide bars 247 and 248, and the cross bar 253 being attached to the outer ends of the slide bars 247 and 248.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the slide bars 247 and 248 constitute the upper leg of a U shaped bracket 254 positioned so that its two legs are horizontally rather than Its lower leg 255 is attached at its end to the cross bar by a plate 256 which is secured to both the cross bar 115 and the leg 255 by suitable screws 257. By virtue of this connection to the cross bar 115, the entire mechanism supported by the brackets 254 is adjustable with the bracket 114, so that the two oppositelydisposed mechanisms on either side of the center of the machine will move toward each other or away Afrom each other with the brackets 114 to vary the spacing between them in accordance with the size of the tray 108 being wrapped.

The anged rollers 245 serve to support the slide 236 for lateral sliding movement along the slide bars 247 ,and 248,v for the purpose of moving the abutment bar 13 the T shaped slide 236 at the outer extremity of the leg portion of the T as shown in Figures and 11.

As the leg 226 pivots inwardly to move the folder 215 toward the tray 108, the rod 262 moves with it to move the slide 236 inwardly with'it by reason of its connection therewith through the spring 264. The latter is of sufficient strength to pull the slide 236 inwardly without expanding appreciablyuntil such movement of the slide is terminated by the cross bar 252 which extends upwardly from its connection with the slide bars 247 and 248 as illustrated in Figure 5, in the path of movement of the plates 238 to serve as a limit stop for the slide 236.

As previously described, the plates 238 secured to the slide 236 to move With it, and the slide 2'36 will move inwardly with the folders 215 until the inner edge of the slide 236 strikes the cross bar 252, as shown in Figure 5, to prevent its further inward movement. The abutments 233 are also carried by the slide 236 to move with it, and when the slide 236 isin its extreme inward position as established by the cross bar. 252', the abutment 233 is accurately positioned directly above the edge of the tray 108 to cooperate with the associated folder 215 for folding the ends 150 underneath the tray 108 in a manner to be described.

When the slide 236 has reached the limit ofits inward movement, the folder 215 reaches the position. shown in Figure 5, where it contacts the bottom edge of the tray 108. Since the folding mechanism is duplicated on the other side of the machine, the second folder 215 is likewise contacting the underside of the tray 108 at its opposite edge, so that the two folders 25 cooperate to support the tray 108. When they reach this position, to support the tray 108, the elevator cam 151 operates to initiate downward movement of the elevator bar 252, to lower the plate 204 out of the path of movement of the folders 215, and locate it for receiving the succeeding tray 108 from the conveyor 22.

Suitable heating elements (not shown) are embedded in the folders 215 and each is connected to a source of electrical energy by a conductor 267 depicted in Figures 13 and 14. The heating elements function, when energized, to heat the entire surface of the-folders 215, andthe heat is utilized for fusing the wrapping material to bind the folds of the wrapping material together along the edge and underside of the tray 108.

The folders 2-15 travel in an arcuate path about the pins 217, and as previously mentioned, rst contact the tray at its upper edge as shown in Figure 14, before the elevator mechanism 198 has completed moving the tray to its uppermost position. While the tray is being moved from the position shown in Figure 14 to its uppermost position as shown in Figure 5, the folders 215 draw the wrapping material down tightly along the edge of the tray. When the tray 108 reaches its uppermost position, the folders are contacting it along its bottom edge and move inwardly from this position toward each other along the underside of tray 108.

As the folders 215 continue in their arcuate movement along the underside of the tray 108, they raise the tray slightly so that its two upper edges move into contact with the two abutments 233, and apply pressure against the underside of the tray 108 while the heat of the folders 215 is fusing the wrapping material to bind the several folds together underneath the tray 108. The folders 215 move toward each other until their edges are in juxtaposition as illustrated in Figure 15, but as they approach each other they begin traveling in the downward directionrof their arcuate movement, so that when they reach their maximum inward position as illustrated in Figure 15, they are depressedjust sufciently to release their pressure upon Vthe tray 108 against the abutments 233. The tray 108 is then resting freely upon the two folders 215, and is slid off of the folders by the transfer mechanism 59 onto the hot plate 76.

- rFhe ends 150 are of suflicientlength to overlap underneath the tray A108, but obviously such overlapping cannot be performed bythe folders 215. Therefore, when the folders 215 reach their maximum inward position, the extremities of the ends E50 are extending downwardly from the center of the tray 188 between the two folders 215 as shown in Figure l5. In order to fold these downwardly extending extremities at against the underside of the tray 108, the transfer mechanism 59 moves the tray 108 off of the folders 215 and passes it over a plate 269 (Figure 12) on its way to the het plate 76. The plate 269 is rigidly supported by the frame 20 and is provided with a V notch 270. When the tray 108 is moved olf of the folders 215, the downwardly extending extremities of the ends pass between the folders 215 into the V notch to be flattened out against the under-A side of the tray 108 as they pass over the plate 2169.

Movement of the tray 108 continues until it reaches the hot plate 76, when the transfer mechanism 59 releases it to permit it to rest upon the hot plate 76. The: latter is provided with suitable heating elements (not shown) to heat its top surface in well known manner.A The heat functions to fuse the several folds of wrapping` material located at the underside of the tray to securely bind them together and effectively seal the package. The: tray 108 rests upon the hot plate 76 for only a moment,l until the transfer mechanism 59 moves the succeeding; tray off of the folders 215 onto the hot plate 76. As it'. is being slid onto the hot plate, the next tray pushes the preceding tray olf of the hot plate onto a grid 27.1 depicted in Figure l. The grid 271 functions to transfer` the heat from the underside of the tray 108 to accelerate` its cooling and minimize the transmission of heat to its: contents. When the package reaches the grid 271, the: wrapping operation is completed, and it is ready to be: placed in a display case. l

The transfer mechanism 59 which functions to trans-v fer the tray 108 from the folders 215 to the hot plate:

76 is actuated by the rotation of the shaft 72 with the: latter being rotated by power transmitted from the camz shaft 47 as previously described. As illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the transfer mechanism 59 comprises a sprocket 276 keyed to the shaft 72 to rotate with it.. An idler sprocket 277 is rotatably mounted on a shaft: 278 supported by the upper extension 74 of the frame: 20. The idler sprocket 277 and the drive sprocket 276 are in meshing engagement with an endless chain 279,. with the two sprockets dening the ends of the loop formed by the chain. i

A bar 285 is secured to the periphery of the chain` 279, and a plate 286 is mounted on the bar 285 to extend outwardly of the chain 279. The plate 286 sup'- ports a hinge 287 at its outer edge, with one plate of the hinge 287 being attached to the plate 286, and the other' plate being attached to a pusher 288 so Vthat the pusherl is hingedly supported by the plate 286 for pivotal move-y ment. A pusher lock 293 is also pivotally supported by' an enlargement 294- formed on the kbar 285, being pivot-- able about a screw 295 which passes through a hole in the lock 293 into engagement with a threaded hole formed in the enlargement 294. The opposite end of the lock 293 supports a roller 296, and one end of a coil spring 297 is attached to the lock between the roller 296 and the screw 295, with the other end of the spring being secured to the plate 286 by a pin 298. The spring 297 serves to` urge the lock 293 in a clockwise direction as viewed in- Figure 4, about the pin 295, to yieldably maintain its outer edge in abutment with the inner edge of the plate 286.

The lock 293 functions to lock the pusher 288 in oper-- ating position while it is pushing a tray 108 onto the hot plate 76, but is arranged to release the pusher 288 from its operating position for pivotal movement to release the tray` 108 after itrhas been properly located on the hot plate 76. In Figure 4, the pusher 288 with its as- 15 Sociated mechanism is shown in its`released position in solid lines, and in its operating position in broken lines.

The pusher 288 is moved from its released position to its operating position by an inclined strap 304 supported on an L-shaped bracket 305 which is mounted on a beam 306. The beam 306 is fixed to the upper extension 74 of the frame 20 to extend across the machine. The inclined strap 304 is secured to the bracket 305 by screws 307 and is adjustable vertically for proper positioning.

The strap 304 cooperates with a roller 310 for moving the pusher 288 into its operating position, the roller 310 being rotatably supported on a pin 311y attached to the pusher 288 and extending laterally therefrom to support the roller directly under the strap 304. The operation of the strap 304 in conjunction with the roller 310 to move the pusher 288 into its operating position may be best observed in Figure 4. As the pusher moves upwardly with the chain 279 about the idler sprocket 277 it has been released by the lock 293 and is freely pivotable about the hinge 287. When it reaches the upper portion of the loop formed by the chain 279, the roller 310 comes into contact with the underside of the strap 304.

Since the strap 304 is inclined downwardly in the path of travel of the roller 310, it progressively moves the roller downwardly to pivot the pusher 288 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4. This pivotal movement of the pusher 288 is continued as the edge of the pusher 288 contacts the roller 296 causing a pivotal movement of the lock 293 about the screw 295 against -the action of the spring 297 to move the roller 296 downwardly and permit the edge of the pusher 288 to pass over it. When the edge of the pusher 288 passes over Ithe roller 296, the spring 297 functions to pivot the lock 293 in the opposite direction to return it to its normal position and move the roller 296 upwardly to lock the pusher 288 in its operating position. The pusher 288 is then in the position shown in broken lines in Figure 4 with its lower end disposed between the roller 296 and the plate 286 to maintain it substantially transverse to the chain 279.

As the pusher 288 arrives at the downward portion of the loop through which it travels, it contacts the 'tray 108 on the folders 215 to move the tray off of the folders. Contact with the tray tends to pivot the pusher 288 in a clockwise direction as Viewed in Figure 4, moving its inner end against the roller 296 which retains the pusher in an operating position, substantially normal to the chain 279, for moving the tray onto the hot plate 76.

When the tray 108 reaches the hot plate 76, the lock 293 is actuated to release the pusher 288 from its operating position to terminate movement of the tray 108. The lock 293 is thus actuated by a roller 312, best seen in Figure 5, adjustably supported on a bracket 313 carried by the beam 306 to locate the roller in the path of travel of a dog 314 formed integrally on the end of the lock 293 opposite the location of the roller 296. The roller 312 is disposed to be contacted by the dog 314 as the lock 293 is moving along the lower portion of the loop, at the moment that the pusher 288 has located the tray 108 on the hot plate 76.

As the dog 314 continues its movement with the lock 293 it is forced downwardly by the roller 312 to pivot .the lock 293 about the screw 295 against the force of :the spring 297, to move the roller 296 upwardly, out of the path of the end of the pusher 288 to release the push- :er from its operating position. Since the outer end of the pusher 288 is in contact with the tray 108, and the chain 279 is moving continuously, the pusher will pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, so that its inner end passes over the displaced roller 296, and its outer end passes over the end of the tray 108, leaving the tray in the desired location on the hot plate 76. The pusher 288 is .then freely pivotable ,about Athe hinge 4287,',aud the initi clined strap 304 again functions in the manner described to returnthe pusher 288 to its operating position for moving the succeeding tray 108 off of the folders 215.

As previously described, theV conveyor22 pushes the tray 108 into the folding mechanism 23 so that the front sides 174 of the ends 150 are moved against the front tuckers 175 for tucking the sides inwardly toward the center of the tray 108. Since the location of the`con- Veyor 22 is iixed and the path of travel of its pushers 102 is likewise xed, the pushers will release the end with which they are in contact at the same position regardless of the size of the tray y108, and the location of the opposite end of the tray will therefore vary with a variance in the length of the tray. The position of the tuckers 175 must therefore be adjusted longitudinally ofthe machine to conform to the various lengths of trays 108 as well as laterally to accommodate a change in the width of the trays.

Lateral adjustment is achieved with the movement of the brackets 114 which support the tuckers 175. When the crank 128 is rotated to adjust the mechanism, it is only necessary to set the pointer on the proper graduation of the scale 144 for the particular size tray being wrapped, and the tuckers will move laterally with the rest of the mechanism to achieve the proper lateral spacing for the width of the particular size tray.

Longitudinal adjustment of the tuckers 175 must be performed separately however, by manipulation of a handle 320 to actuate the mechanism illustrated in Figure 12. The handle 320 is pivotally supported by a pin 321 extending upwardly from the frame 20 and is provided with a pointer 322 for cooperation with a scale 323 which is graduated to cooperate with the pointer 322 for indicating the proper position for a' particular size tray in the same manner that the pointer 145 indicates the proper spacing of the brackets 114 and their associated mechanism for a specific size tray 108. The scale 323 is former on plate 324 mounted on the frame 20 and having an arcuate slot 32S for receiving a thumb screw 326 which is in engagement with a threaded hole in the handle 320. The thumb screw 326 is furnished for the purpose of locking the handle 320 and its associated parts including the tuckers 175v in the desired position by tightening the thumb screw against the plate 324.

Since the handle 320 is supported for pivotal movement, its inner end will move in an arcuate path. To accommodate this arcuate movement, the inner endof the handle 320 is attached to a block 333 under the hot plate 76 by a link 334, with the latter being pivotally attached at one end to the inner end of the handle 320 and at the other end to the block 333 so that it may pivot relative to both the handle 320 and the block 333. A transverse rod 342 passes through a bore in the block 333 and is secured thereto to extend equally from it on either side toward the sides of the machine. A pair of bushings 335 are mounted on the rod 342, with one bushing 335 disposed on either side of the block 333. Each of the bushings 335 is attached to the end of one of the two slide bars 336 which are supported for sliding movement by a pair of slide blocks 337, being disposed within recesses formed in the slide blocks and retained therein for sliding movement by plates 338 attached to the slide blocks 337 over the recesses by suitable screws 339. Each of the slide blocks 337 is secured to one of the cross bars 115 as depicted in Figure 6, so that they will move with the cross bars 115 and their supporting brackets 114 when their spacing is adjusted by revolving the crank 128. One of the front tuckers 175 is mounted on the forward end of each of the slide bars 336 as previlously described, in position to operate upon the wrapping material as the tray is moved into the folding mechanism 23.

With this arrangement, pivotal movement of the handle 320 will be transmitted to the block 333 throughthe link 3 34 to effect linear movement of the block which is pro- 17 vided with additional guiding support by a rod 340 secured at one end to the block 333 and supported at the other end for sliding axial movement by a bushing 341 mounted on the frame 20 under the plate 269. As the block 333 is moved longitudinally of the machine by the pivotal movement of the handle 320, its associated rod 342 moves with it to effect a corresponding movement of the slide bars 336 through the slide blocks 337'by reason of their connection with the rod 324 through the bushings 335. Such movement of the slide bars 336, in turn, produces a corresponding movement of their associated front tuckers 175 to effect their longitudinalradjustment along the machine.

When the brackets 114 are adjusted to vary their spacing, the slide blocks 337 will move laterally with them by reason of their connection therewith through the cross bars 115. As the slide blocks 337 move laterally, the slide bars 336 and their associated tuckers 175 will move with them, with the bushings 335 sliding along the rod 34I2 so that the slide bars move laterally relative to the rod 342 without breaking their connection therewith. It is obvious therefore, that the tuckers 175 may be adjusted laterally and longitudinally to accommodate for the varying widths and lengths respectively of the trays 108 being wrapped.

As illustrated in Figure l, the electrical energy utilized for energizing the motor 30 and the heating elements of the folders 215 and hot plate 76 is brought to a switch box 345 from which it is transmitted selectively to the motor 30 and a thermostatic control box 346. A thermostat (not shown) is disposed within the control box 346 to regulate the flow of electricity to the heating elements to maintain a uniform temperature on the surfaces of the folders 215 and hot plate 76, with the temperature being selected by the setting of a control knob 347 on the box 346. A pilot light 348 is mounted on the box 346 and is connected to provide a visual indication of the flow of electricity to the several heating elements.

Summarizing a cycle of operation of the machine to perform a wrapping operation, the tray 108, or otherl article to be wrapped, is placed upon the conveyor 22, with a sheet of wrapping material placed about it having two of its diagonally opposite corners secured together at the underside of the tray. This leaves two ends 150 of the Wrapping material extending laterally from the tray 108. The conveyor 22 then functions to move the tray 108 into the folding mechanism 23 for completing the wrapping operation.l

The conveyor 22 moves the front sides 174 of the ends 150 against the front tuckers 175 to tuck them inwardly toward the center of the tray, and the cams 168 actuate the rear tuckers 180 to similarly tuck the rear sides 181 of the ends 150. While the rear sides 181 of the ends 150 are being tucked inwardly, the elevator cam 209 functions to actuate the elevator mechanism 198 to raise the tray 108 with its ends still extending for operation upon by the folders 215.

At the same time that the tray 108 is being raised to its upper position by the elevator mechanism 198, the folder cams 162 operate to initiate movement of the folders 215. The folders 215 draw the wrapping material tightly along the edges of the tray 108 and fold the ends 150 underneath the tray while applying heat to the wrapping material to bind its foldsV together at the underside of the tray. When thefolders 215 have completed their operation, the transfer mechanism 59 slides the tray 108 off of the folders 215 which are now supporting it with the extremities of the ends 150 extending downwardly from the tray 108 between the folders 215. The transfer mechanism moves the tray 108 over the plate 269 on its way `to the hot plate 76 for the purpose of folding these extremities to the underside of the tray. The hot plate 76 applies heat tothe wrapping material at the underside of the tray 108 to fuse it and thereby securely bind it together to complete the wrapping opera- 118 Y f tion.` From the hot plate 76, the tray 108 is moved onto the grid 171 to accelerate the cooling of its underside and from there it is removed from the machine, ready to be displayed.

From the foregoing detailed description of the structure and operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that a new and improved semi-automatic wrapping machine has been provided, that is especially adapted to complete a diamond wrap for wrapping merchandise in a heat sensitive wrapping material to form a neat package with its contents sealed from the atmosphere.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail for the purpose of making a full disclosure of a practical operative structure by means of which the invention may be practiced, it is to be understood that various lnovel features of the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of the invention having now been fullyl explained in connection with the foregoing description of embodying structure, we hereby claim as our invention:

l. In a machine for completing the wrapping of an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material after the sheet of wrapping material has been wrapped about the article with a pair of diagonally opposite co-rners bound together at the underside of the article so that the other two diagonally opposite corners of the wrapping material extend outwardly from the sides of the article, a source of power, a conveyor connected to be Aactuated by said source of power and arranged to receive the article with the sheet of wrapping material wrapped about it and advance it for subsequent operations, a pair of folders connected to be actuated by said source of power to fold the -extending corners of the wrapping material downwardly and to the underside of the article after it has been positioned by the conveyor to envelope the article within the sheet of Wrapping material, a trans-v fer mechanism connected to be actuated by said source of power to advance the article from the folders after,

they have completed their operation, anda hot plate presenting a heated surface and disposed to receive the article from said transfer mechanism to apply heat to its underside for the purpose of fusing the folds of wrapping material to bind them together at the underside of the article.

2. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, a source of power, a frame, a conveyor supported by said frame and connected to be actuated by said source of power for advancing the article with a sheet of Wrapping material placed about it into the apparatus to be operated upon, an elevator slida-bly mounted on said frame for vertical movement in position to receive the article from the conveyor when it is in its depressed position and connected to be actuated by said source of power to raise the article into position kfor a succeeding operation, a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultaneous movement toward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said source of power in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other after the article.

has been properly positioned by said elevator to contact portions of the sheet of wrapping material extending from thefarticle and move them downwardly `and to the.

underside of the article to envelope the article in the Wrapping material, a plurality'of lheating elements connected; to heat the surfaces of said folders to heat the wrapping material as it is being folded to the underside of said article for the purpose of binding the folds of the wrapping material together and therebyseal the article within the wrapping material, a hot plate sup.`

ported by said frameto receive the article from said folders to apply additional heat to the underside of the article to bind the folds of wrapping material together, and a transfer mechanism 'connected' to be actuated by Said source Qi Power vto transfer the article frQm the folders to the hot plate. y'

3. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat 4sensitive wrapping material, a source of power, a frame, a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultaneous movement toward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said source of power in a path of travel to move tothe underside of the article as they approach each other after the article has been properly positioned in the apparatus with a sheet of wrapping material placed about it2 said folders moving in a patht'o contact portions ofthe sheet of wrapping material extending Yfrom the article and move thern downwardly 'and to the underside of the article to envelope the article in the v wrapping material, a hot plate supported by said frame toreceive theI article from said folders andapply heat the Vfolclsof wrapping material at the underside of the article tobind them together, and a notched plate supported by said frame in the path of travel of the article onits way to the hotplate so that the article slides over the notched plate to cause it to fold any protruding portions of the wrapping rnaterial fiat against the underside of the article, whereby said folds of wrappingmaterial'are bound together at the underside of the articleV by the heat from the hot plate.

4. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, a'source of power, a frame, an elevator Vslidably supported by said'frame for vertical movement and constructed to receive the article with a sheet of wrapping material placed about it, when it is in its depressed position, said elevator being connected 'to be actuated by said source of power to raise the article into position for a succeeding operation, a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultaneous movement toward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said source of power in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other after the article has been properly positioned by said elevator to contact portions of the sheet of wrapping material extending from the article and move them downwardly and to the underside of the article to envelope the article in the wrapping material, a hot plate supported by said frame to receive the article from said folders and apply heat to the folds of wrapping material at the underside of the article to bind them together, and a notched plate supported by said frame in` the path `of travel of the article on its way toV the hot plate so that the article slides over the notched plate to cause it to fold any protruding portions of the wrapping material flat against the underside of the article to be bound together by the heat from the hot plate.

Y5. -In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material'after the'sheet of wrapping materialhas been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a frame, la source of power, a'conveyor supported by said frame and connected to be actuated by said source of power for advancing the article in the apparatus and positoning it, a pair of front tuckers supported by said frame in the path of travel of the front sides' of said extending ends for each to be contacted by the front side of one of said extending ends so that as the front sides move against the front tuckers they are tuckedV inwardly toward the center ofthe article to draw the Wrapping material tightly about 'theA two ufront corners of the article, a 'pair of rear tuckers movably supported byV said frame and connected to be actuatedby said source of power in a path of travel so that each moves against the rear side of one of saidV ex- 'tending nends to tuck the rear sides inwardly toward the center'of thea'rticle to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners `of the article,'fa` pair 4of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultneousmovement toward andaway vfrom each other `and Azo astres@ connected to beactuated in their movement by said source ofpo'w'erin a path of travel to move tothe undersidev of the article as they approach'each other to contact said extending ends after theirs'ides have been tucked inwardly to move them downwardly' and t they underside of the article to envelope they article inthe sheet of wrapping material, and a pair of heating elements connected to heat the surfaces of, said folders to heat the wrapping material as it is being moved to the underside of said article for the purpose of binding the folds of the wrapping material together and thereby seal the article within the wrapping material.

6. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material after the sheet of wrapping material has been' placed aboutthe article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a frame, a source of power, a 'pair' of front tuckers 'supported by said frame in position to b'e`cont`act'e'd Vby the front sides of said extending ends as the article is located'in the ap'- paratus to be operatedupon so thatV as'the front sides move against the front tuckers they are tucked inwardly toward the center of the article to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two front corners of the article, a pair of rear tuclers movably supported by said 4frame and connected to be actuated by said source of power in a path of travel so that each moves against the rear 'side of one of said extending ends to tuck the rear sides inwardly toward the center of the article to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners of the article, and a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultaneous movement towardand away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said sourcel of power in4 a path'of travel to move to the underside of the aticle as they approach each other to contact said extending ends after their sides have been tucked inwardly to move them downwardly and to the underside of the articleto envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material.

7. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping rnz'iter'ial'after the sheet of wrapping material has been placed about' the article with two ends extending Hfrom opposite sides of the article, a frame, :a source of power, a conveyor supported by said frame and connected to be actuated by said source of power for advancing the article in the apparatus and positioning it,'a pair of front tuckers supported by said frame linthe path of travel ofthe front sides of said extending ends for each to vbe contacted by the front side of one of said extending ends so that asthe front sides move against the front tuckers they`are tucked inwardly toward the center of the article to drawthe wrapping material tightly about the two'front corners of the article, a pair of reantircliers 4mo-vabl'y'supported by said frame and connected to bel actuated `bysaid source of power ina path of travel 'so that Yeach nioves against th'e'reai side of one of said extending ends to tuck therear sides inwardly toward *the centerbof the' article Vto drawV the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners of the article, a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for "simultaneous .movement toward and away from each othenand connected/to b e actuated in'therir movement bysaid source ,of powerin'a path of travel to move to theunderside of the article as they approach each other to Ycontact said' extending 'ends after their sides have been tucked inwardly tomove therndownwardlyand Vto the underside of the article to envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material, a pair of heating elements connected to heat the surfaces of said folders to heat the wrapping material as'it is being moved to the lundersideof said article for the purpose of binding the foldsof the wrapping materialtogether, a hot plate supported byA said frameto receive the article from" said felders and apply additional heat to the folds of wrapping materialn at tl'n underside :ofthe article to bind them to ,gfllf @PQPQWI l??? TSBPPQtd PY rfid fief??? i111' tht 21 path of travel of the article on its wayto the hot plate so that the article slides over the notched plate to cause it to fold any protruding portions of the wrapping material ilat against the underside of the article, and a transfer mechanism connected to be actuated by said source of power and arranged to transfer the article from said folders over said notched plate and onto said hot plate where the folds created by said notched plate are bound to ythe wrapping material at the underside of the article to seal the article within the wrapping material to form a neat package.

8. In an4 apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the sheet has been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a source of power, a frame, a pair of brackets movably supported by said frame for simulltaneous movement in opposite directions with each @bracket on one side of the center of thel apparatus so that the brackets move together toward the center of the .apparatus to reduce their spacing, or away from the center of the apparatus to increase their spacing, a `graduated scale and pointer connected to indicate the ldistance between said brackets, and a folder movably vsupported by each of said brackets with the two folders `being arranged fory movement in opposite directions ytoward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said source of power in a 'path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other to Contact said extending ends of the wrapping material to move them to the underside of the article to envelope the article in the sheet of -wrapping material, whereby the spacing of the brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of the folders supported thereon for the purpose of accommodating articles of various widths, with the proper spacing of the brackets for a particular width article being indicated on said graduated scale.

9. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the sheet has been placed about the articlevwith two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a source of power, a frame, a pair of brackets movably supported by said frame for simultaneous movement in opposite directions with each bracket on one side of the center of the apparatus so that the brackets move together toward the center of the apparatus to reduce their spacing, or away from the center of the apparatus to increase their spacing, a graduated scale and pointer connected to indicate the spacing of said brackets, a front tucker carried by each of said brackets in position so that the two front tuckers are in the path of the two front sides of the extending ends as the article is positioned in the apparatus and function to tuck the front sides inwardly toward the center of the article as the front sides are moved against them to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two front corners of the article, a rear tucker movably supported by each of said two brackets and connected to be actuated by said source of power in a path of travel so that each moves against the rear side of one of said extending ends to tuck the rear sides inwardly toward the center of the article to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners of the article, and a folder mo-vably supported by each of said brackets with the two folders being arringed for movement in opposite directions toward and away from each other and connectedto be actuated in their movement by said source of power in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other to contact said extending ends of the wrapping material to move them to the underside of the article to envelope it in the sheet of wrapping material, whereby the spacing of the front tuckers, the

rear tuckers, and the folders may be adjusted simultaneously by simply adjusting the spacing of the two brackets which support the operating mechanism, with 22 the proper spacing of the brackets for a particular width article being conveniently indicated on said graduated scale.

10. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the sheet has been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a source of power, a frame, a pair of brackets movably supported by said frame for simultaneous movement in opposite directions with each bracket on one side of the center of theapparatus so that the brackets move together toward the center of the apparatus to reduce their spacing, or away from the center of the apparatus to increase their spacing,

`a drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame and movably supported by each of said brackets with the two folders being arranged for movement in opposite directions toward and away from each other, with each connected to be actuated in its movement by one of said folder cams in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other to Contact said extending ends of the wrapping material to move them to the underside of the article to envelope it in the sheet of wrapping material, whereby the spacing of the brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of the folders supported thereon and their actuating cams in unison to accommodate articles of various widths. t

11. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping materialafter the sheet has been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a source of power, a frame, a pair of brackets movably supported by said frame for simultaneous movement in opposite directions with each bracket on one side of the center of the apparatus so that the brackets move together toward the center of the apparatus to reduce their spacing, or away from the center of the apparatus to increase their spacing, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame and connected to be rotated by said source of power, a folder cam rotatably supported by each of said brackets and keyed to said shaft in an elongated key slot so that the two folder cams may move relative to their cooperating drive shaft with the brackets without interrupting their driving connection with the shaft, a rear tucker cam rotatably supported by each of said brackets and keyed to said drive shaft in said elongated key slot so that the two rear tucker cams may move relative to their cooperating drive shaft with the brackets without interrupting their driving connection with the shaft, a front tucker carried by each of said brackets in position so that the two front tuckers are in the path of the two front sides ofthe extending ends as the article is positioned in the apparatus and function to tuck the front sides inwardly toward the center of the article as the front sides are moved against them to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two front corners of the article, a rear tucker movably supported by each of said two brackets with each connected to be actuated by one of said rear tucker cams in a path of travel so that each moves against the rear side of one of said extending ends to tuck the v rear sides inwardly toward the center of the article to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners of the article, and a folder movably supported by each of said brackets with the two folders being arranged for movement in opposite directions toward and away from each other with each connected to be actuated in its movement by one of said folder cams in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other to contact said extending ends of the wrapping material to Amove them to the underside of the article vto envelope it in the sheet of wrapping material, whereby to` accommodate articles of varying widths, the spacing of the brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of the folders, front tuckers and rear tuckers with the actuating cams moving with the brackets to maintain their driving connection.

12. In an apparatus for wrapping articles in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, a source of power, a frame, a pair of brackets movably supported by 4said frame, actuating'means operably connected to actuate said brackets in their path of movement for adjusting their spacing relative to each other, and a folder movably supported by each of said brackets with the two'folders being mountedon said brackets formovement inopposite directions toward and away from each other" and connected to be actuated in their movement by said source of power ina path of travel to'm'ove 'to the underside of the article as they'approach each other after the article has been properly positioned' in the apparatus with a sheet of Wrapping material placed'about it, said folders moving in a path to contact portionstof the sheet of wrapping material extending from the article and fold them downwardly and to the underside of the article to envelope the article in the wrapping material, whereby the spacing of the brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of the foldersl supported thereon for the purpose of accommodating articles of various widths.

13. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, a Vsource of power, a frame, a pair of folders oppositely supported by said frame for simultaneous movement toward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said sour-ce of power in a path of travel to move to the underside of the article as they approach each other after the article has been properly positioned in the apparatus with a sheet of wrapping material placed about it, said folders moving in a path to contact portions of the sheet of wrapping material extending from the article and fold them downwardly and tothe underside of the article to envelope the article in the wrapping material, ay pair of slides movably supported by said frame in opposed relationship for movement toward andv away from each other, means yieldably urging said slides away from each other to an inoperative position, actuatingV means connected to move said slides to an operative Vposition toward each other as said folders move towardeach other for moving the portions of the sheet of Wrapping material downwardly and to the underside of the article, and an abutment attached to each of said slides in Vposition to overlie the top of the article when said slides arein their operative position with one of said abutments being disposed on each side of the article to be contacted by the top of the article to limit its upward movement as the folders are operating at the underside of 'the article, whereby said folders will apply a slight upward pressure on the article and against said abutments' as they move the sheet of wrapping to the underside of thearticle to draw the wrapping material tightly along the underside of the article and said abutments will be withdrawn to an inoperative position away from the article when the folders have completed their operation.

14. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, a source of power, a frame, a pair of'folders oppositely supported by said frame for movement toward and away from each other and connected to be actuated in their movement by said sourceof power in a path of travel to move to the underside ofthe article as they approach each other after the article has been properly positioned in the apparatus'with a sheet'of wrapping material placed about it, said folders moving in a path to contact portions of the sheet of wrapping material lextending from the article and move them downwardly tothe 'underside of thearticle 'to Veni velope the article in the wiapping material, a hot plate supported by said frame to receive the article from said folders and apply heat to the folds of -wrapping material at the underside of the article to bind them together, transfer means connected to' Ibe driven by said source of power and'operable to transfer the article from said folders to said' hot plate, and folding means supported by said frame in the path of travel of the article on its way to the hot plate and operable to fold any downwardlyV protruding portions of the wrapping material at against Vthe underside of the article as the article slides toward said hot plate, whereby the folds of wrapping material are bound together at the underside of the article by the heat from the hot plate.

' 15. In'anV apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of heat sensitive wrapping material, 'a table located' at the'forward end of 'the apparatus for facilitating the manual placement of a sheetof wrapping material about the article with a pair of `diagonally oppositeV corners of the sheet being brought together atl the underside of the article so that the other two diagonally opposite corners of the wrapping material extend outwardly from opposite sides of the article, a hot plate supported adjacent to said table for applying heat to the underside of the article to fuse together the two diagonally opposite corners of the wrapping material that are disposed at the underside of the article to secure the sheet of wrapping material about the article, a frame, a pair of bracketssupported by said frame, said brackets being adjustable to vary their spacing for accommodating articles of dierent lengths, first folding means supported by the lirst of said brackets, said first folding means being operable to contact the rst extending'end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, and second folding means supported by the second of said brackets, said second folding meansbeing operable to contact the second extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, whereby said folding means operate to fold the extending ends of the wrapping material to the underside of the article to envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material and the spacing of said brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of said two folding means supported thereon so that said folding means may operate on articles of various lengths.

16. In an apparatus for Wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the sheet has 'been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a frame, a source of power, a pair of brackets supported by said frame, said brackets being adjustable to vary their spacing for accornniodatingv ar ticles of different lengths, iirst folding means supported by the rst of said brackets, said rst folding means being operable to contact the rst extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, second folding means supported by the second of said brackets, said second folding means being operable to contact the second extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, and a rear tucker movably supported by each of said two brackets and connected to be actuated by said source of power in a path of travel so that each moves against the rear side of one of said extending ends to tuck the rear sides inwardly toward the center of the extending ends to draw the wrapping material tightly about the two rear corners of the article, whereby said folding means and said rear tuckers operate to fold the extending ends of the wrapping material to envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material and the spacing of said brackets may be' adjusted to vary the spacing of said two folding means and of said two rear tuckers supported thereon so that articles of Vvarious lengths may be wrapped by the' apparatus'. i

' 17. in an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the Vshe'etiias been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a frame, a pair of brackets supported by said frame, said brackets being adjustable to vary their spacing for accommodating articles of different lengths, first tucker means supported by the first of said brackets and operable to engage the sides of the first extending end of the wrapping material and tuck the sides inwardly toward the center of the extending end to draw the wrapping material tightly about two corners of the article, second tucker means supported by the second of said brackets and operable to engage the sides of the second extending end of the wrapping material and tuck the sides inwardly toward the center of the extending end to draw the wrapping material tightly about the other two corners of the article, rst folding means supported by the first of said brackets, said first folding means being operable to contact the first extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, and second folding means supported by the second of said brackets, said second folding means being operable to contact the second extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, whereby said folding means and said tu-cker means operate to fold the extending ends of the wrapping material to envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material and the spacing of said brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of said two folding means and of said two tucking means supported thereon so that articles of differentlengths may be efficiently wrapped by the apparatus.

18. In an apparatus for wrapping an article in a sheet of wrapping material after the sheet has been placed about the article with two ends extending from opposite sides of the article, a source of power, a pair of brackets supported by said frame, said brackets being adjustable to vary their spacing for accommodating articles of different lengths, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame and connected to be rotated by said source of power, a pair of tucker cams keyed to said drive shaft in an elongated key slot, the spacing of said tucker cams being adjustable with the adjustment of the spacing of said brackets without interrupting their driving connection with said shaft, a tucker movably supported by each of said brackets with each connected to be actuated by one of said tucker cams in a path of travel to move against one of the sides of said extending ends to tuck the sides of the extending ends inwardly toward the center to draw the wrapping material tightly about the adjacent corners of the article, first folding means supported by the rst of said brackets, said first folding means being operable to contact the rst extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, and second folding means supported by the second of said brackets, said second folding means being operable to contact the second extending end of the wrapping material and move it downwardly and to the underside of the article, whereby said folding means and said tuckers operate to fold the extending ends of the wrapping material to envelope the article in the sheet of wrapping material and the spacing of said brackets may be adjusted to vary the spacing of said two folding means and of said two tuckers supported thereon so that articles of different lengths may be eciently wrapped by the apparatus.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 255,196 Ross Mar. 21, 1882 980,329 Northrup Jan. 3, 1911 1,056,164 Gibson Mar. 18, 1913 1,392,683 Hackett Oct. 4, 1921 1,554,369 Remington Sept. 22, 1925 1,601,438 Gustafson Sept. 28, 1926 1,702,704 Phillips Feb. 19, 1929 1,756,919 Becker Apr. 29, 1930 1,841,755 Mitchell Jan. 19, 1932 1,893,496 Ferguson Jan. 10, 1933 1,907,693 Wichner May 9, 1933 1,964,083 Rubens June 26, 1934 2,021,453 Levin Nov. 19, 1935 2,132,455 Bishop Oct. 11, 1938 2,132,546 Smith Oct. 11, 1938 2,391,708 Johnson Dec. 25, 1945 2,641,304 Biddinger June 9, 1953 2,690,633 Denton Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,149 Germany Dec. 9, 1922 

